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Christmas

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Original poster

Do you buy presents for your children to give to others?

21 replies

BatEtherWitches · 06/11/2011 09:59

Was talking with friends about how present-buying can be a bit of a chore.

I said I was really looking forward to taking DD1 out shopping to choose the presents she was going to buy for people (ie her grandparents and her baby sister.)

Everyone else was Shock and said that children shouldn't have to buy presents.

I said that obviously I am paying (DD1 is not quite 4 and doesn't have any money of her own), but it would be fun and exciting for her to choose some little things to give - of the soap/pen/bar of chocolate/homemade biscuits variety - and wrap them up just from her.

I get the feeling everyone thought I was a bit mad, but I want DD1 to have the pleasure of giving presents, that's the best bit imo.

I would have thought most people did the same? Do you?

OP posts:
moajab · 06/11/2011 10:03

Yes my boys always choose a small present for each other and wrap it. And we make a photo calandar for the boys to give to their grandparents. I think it's good for children to think about what to give to others at Christmas instead of just compiling their own long lists!

tummytickler · 06/11/2011 10:16

Mine do. They give a present to each other, and also to grandparents, and to us. They get £5 each for each person they need to buy for and then get to choose anything (on year granny got a weird fish made out of beads, and grandad got a bug made out of a rock!)
We do it on our towns Late Night Shopping!
I agree with moajab it is really important that dc's don't just see Christmas as a time to 'get stuff' . It's about spending time with family, giving to others and having fun. And Jesus obv!

zipzap · 06/11/2011 10:30

I do this too. Ds1(6) in particular has quite strong ideas on what he wants to give people - especially daddy. :) especially if he gets let loose in somewhere like Hawkins or paperchase. He also tends to make things for them...

It's also good because it helps them to learn about keeping good secrets/surprises!

Fo0ffyShmooffer · 06/11/2011 10:34

Yes. Just a little something for Nana, Auntie and Grandad. Chosen by DS paid for by us. It's just a token gift.
When he is in high school and we up his pocket money we'd like him to spend a pound or two himself. Both DCs get great value out of choosing and giving.

ENormaSnob · 06/11/2011 11:00

I do this too.

I get small gifts off all three dc to give to family. This is seperate to the gifts dh and I buy.

I then take each child shopping seperately, give them a limit (about £10 in total) and they choose for their 2 siblings, me and their dad. Ds1 gets a bit extra to get for his bio dad and his family too.

Letchlady · 06/11/2011 21:27

Yes, definitely. I think it is important to teach children that Christmas is not just about receiving.

Each year before Christmas, we take the children Christmas shopping and they are given some money where they will choose gifts for the important people in their lives. (Grandparents, Uncle, Great grandparents, Teacher).

Before the shopping day, I discuss with the children what they want to give so we have a good idea, but they will go and choose something that the person will like. I have done this with them since they were little.

mogs0 · 06/11/2011 21:52

Last year was the first year that ds and I went shopping for him to get gifts for the family.

He bought some great things for his aunties, uncle, gps and looked so pleased with himself when we got home and he wrapped them all ready for the big day. He also took great delight in handing them out on Christmas day.

timetosmile · 06/11/2011 21:57

Close family and Godparents get a little gift from each of the three DCs..usually a pretty notebook, choccies, pretty tree decoration etc which they often choose themselves.
DS1(10) is buying close family ones out of his own money this year, having switched from 'pocket money' to 'allowance', but I buy for the others.
If they want to get 30p santa lollies for their schoolfriends, then it's their cash!

SacreLao · 06/11/2011 21:58

I don't do this, when my children have money to spend they can buy all the presents they want.

What we do however is make something from the children for all close relatives.

Last year was a calender, this year we are doing handmade soap. Costs almost nothing, the children have a great time, the family love the presents and it's much more personal.

Hulababy · 06/11/2011 22:01

DD will give a small token goft to key family, yes. Sometimes we buy a small gift (in which case I pay for it) or other times we have made something (in which case I have paid for the materials to do so).

JaxTellerIsMyFriend · 06/11/2011 22:02

I do this. DD (8) loves choosing presents for people and she has a fantastic imagination so always picks something a bit quirky.

Nothing majorly expensive, but she loves giving presents and wrapping them up. DS chooses something for me, DH and his sister. Now that the DC are older they want to get presents for their friends too. They have money for that which is saved.

TheRealMrsHannigan · 07/11/2011 10:01

I let DD (3) help to choose and wrap gifts for her friends at the childminders, just a small gift but she loves doing it :)

CherryRocketMonster · 07/11/2011 10:26

i give my children £20 to buy presents. this has to cover my parents, brother and sister and me, and if enough left, something for each other. ds1 is pretty good at getting little knick knacks. i take them seperately (4 kids in town together, and me watching them all- not a chance) and they are getting good at it. obviously i dont expect them to buy anything big or expensive for anyone, most of get £2-3 presents, and in coming years they will have to put towards it from their own money (ds1 already does if he wants extra for anyone)

tryingtofigureitout · 07/11/2011 11:54

absolutely not.

i think thats OTT.

a nice gift for granny from all of us is plenty. and a homemade card signed by child. job done.

ZimboMum · 07/11/2011 12:34

Ds is nearly one and it never occurred to me that he wouldn't be giving his grandparents etc a little present. Last year he posed asleep for the pictures to make calendars and will be doing the same again this year. Can't wait till we can make something together or he can choose what he wants to buy for people.

olibeansmummy · 07/11/2011 17:46

Ds and his half brother will be buying a token gift for each other. Ss has recently come back into our lives after his mum refusing access for most of ds's life so I think it'll be a good bonding experience for them. Ds is only 2 so I'll point him in the direction of the small Lego sets and get whatever he chooses ( probably cars but ss likes that too) and ss will enjoy choosing something for ds.

Smokedsalmonbagel · 07/11/2011 20:07

I have been thinking about doing this this year as DS1 is old enough to understand about choosing presents and giving. We are hoping to make some fudge for Grandparents, teachers and a few friends.

The only thing I'm not sure about is how it fits in with the whole Father Christmas thing. If Father Christmas is meant to deliver all the presents, will it confuse DS if he is choosing some of them. Or does Father Christmas just deliver the stocking? Not sure if I'm over thinking it!!!

cat64 · 07/11/2011 20:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Tiggles · 07/11/2011 22:42

My 3 boys have always made presents for relatives/godparents etc. I don't see the point per se of giving them my money to spend (partly as with 3 of them and 10 relatives each it would get very expensive very quickly!), but think it is good for them to put time into making things for other people.

DandyDan · 08/11/2011 10:57

Once they received pocket money (aged 5+) I took each of ours out separately to shop for little presents for their three siblings and their dad - a pencil, a 99p pair of socks, a Mars Bar etc kind of thing. Then their dad would take them all out together and help them buy something small for me. If they didn't have quite enough pennies we would sub them a bit to help out. It is good that they learn how to buy presents, and not think Christmas is all about receiving, and also to think carefully about what makes a good present as well (I never let them buy really stupid stuff but something that the person would like or use, even if it's just a little pack of decorated tissues or a Pot Noodle or Tic-Tacs). They loved being able to wrap the presents themselves and they put them in each others stockings before they went to bed on Christmas Eve.

Some years they made things instead of buying things and one of them would also buy something for my parents. Now they're all getting into late teens, they get very creative about what they buy for each other and have planned this year's gifts already.

justcallmemummypig · 08/11/2011 11:06

smokedsalmonbagel... in our house fc brings the stocking and theone toy they really want... we also give gifts to each other. I couldn't let people buy for my children and not get a thank you card for it.

DC make a basket for the gp's between them, this yr it's a calender, decorated tea towel, fudge, cards all made at home and this yrs school photos. Then they each buy a little something prob a soap and socks that we put in. Gp's will be here for xmas with us.

Dh and I take them shopping seperately to buy for each other-they love choosing nothing expensive, when they get money of their own they will buy but at the moment we do.

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